Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article DOCUMENTATION OF AVIFAUNA IN PROPOSED TSANGYANG GYATSO BIOSPHERE RESERVE, WESTERN ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA *Kripaljyoti Mazumdar1, Abhik Gupta2 and Prasanna K. Samal3 1H. No. 6, Tribeni Path, Chandan Nagar, Six Mile, Guwahati, Assam-781 022 2Department of Ecology & Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, Assam- 788 011 3G.B. Pant Institute for Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), North East Unit, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh-791113 *Author for Correspondence

ABSTRACT In the eastern Himalaya, the proposal of Tsangyang Gystso biosphere reserve in the western part of Arunachal Pradesh can be considered as the increased effort of brining more areas under the umbrella of protected area network in high altitude zones as most of them are confined to low and mid-elevation region of the state. There are few efforts to document the avifaunal diversity from this region, but information from the higher altitude areas of western Arunachal Pradesh is relatively sporadic. With the discovery of new avifaunal e.g. Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum) and new distributional record of Rusty-tailed flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) etc. denote the richness and diversity of avifauna in the proposed reserve. A comprehensive documentation of of the proposed biosphere reserve was carried out during the course of this study recording a total of 207 species of birds belong to 48 families.

Keywords: Avifaunal Diversity, Tsangyang Gyatso Biosphere Reserve, High Altitude Wetlands, Arunachal Pradesh

INTRODUCTION Diversity of any form of life including avifauna is one of the most important ecological indicators to evaluate the quality of habitats. North-east India probably supports the highest diversity in the Orient, with about 836 of the 1,200 bird species known from the Indian subcontinent (Birand and Power, 2004). Two Endemic Bird Areas viz. the Eastern Himalaya (EBA 130) with global distribution of 22 restricted range species and the Assam Plains (EBA 131) with 3 restricted range species signifies the importance of the habitats that ranges in this region (ICBP 1992; Rahmani and Choudhury 2012). Of these, 21 species occur in Arunachal Pradesh, which harbors the largest number of restricted range species among the northeastern states of India (Islam and Rahmani, 2004; Mazumdar and Gogoi, 2010; Gogoi et al., 2010). The richness of the region’s avifauna largely reflects the diversity of habitats associated with a wide altitudinal range (Birand and Pawar, 2004). Arunachal Pradesh covering ca. 15.76 % of Indian Himalayan region and 43.62 % of the Biological Hotspot, the eastern Himalaya supports rich and diverse bird life (Sangha and Naoraji, 2007). The state of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the highly differing habitats with more than 550 species of birds have been identified (Islam and Rahmani, 2004), Singh (1994) has recorded a total 519 species from 52 different localities throughout the state of Arunachal Pradesh, while Choudhury (2006) has recorded a total of 738 species. The richness of the avifauna of the region largely reflects the diversity of habitats associated with a wide altitudinal range (Gogoi et al., 2010). Arunachal Pradesh is a biodiversity hotspot and supports a rich and diverse birdlife (Birand and Pawar, 2004). Several accounts of the avifaunal inventory of Arunachal Pradesh have been published. However, the avifauna of high altitude areas of Arunachal Pradesh is still poorly understood and several new distributional records including description of a new species Liocichla bugunorum from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (Athreya, 2006). Moreover the recent

© Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 74 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article new record of Rusty-tailed flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda) from Tawang district (Kumar 2008), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) in high-altitude lakes of Tawang District (Gogoi et al., 2010) and breeding population of Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) from high-altitude lakes of Tawang district further signify the importance of these studies to bridge these gaps. Himalayan temperate and subalpine zone forests extend from northern Pakistan and adjacent Afghanistan through north-east India to south-west China, and at high altitudes alpine habitats support many birds characteristic of the mountains of central Asia. Arunachal Pradesh is still relatively an unexplored state but whenever ornithologist have visited, the bird checklist has been very impressive such as India has 17 out of 51 species of Pheasant, and Arunachal Pradesh has 11 species, i.e 2/3rd of India’s total Pheasant record (Islam & Rahmani 2004; Soud et al., 2011). Most of the high altitude waterbodies and wetlands are also playing significant role inmaintaining ecological balance and are productive systems (Mazumdar et al., 2011) and provide breeding ground for the dabbling ducks. Though there is lack of information on the breeding ecology of these species from higher altitude wetlands of Arunachal Pradesh. Published information on the birds of Western Arunachal Pradesh, particularly on the proposed Biosphere reserve is relatively scarce. Singha (1999) had recorded 118 species at Zimithang-Nelya area; Mishra et al., (2004) has recorded total of 150 species of birds during a survey in the higher altitudinal regions of Tawang and West Kameng region; Kumar (2008) has recorded a total of 81 species of birds in the Tawang chu, the major river system in Tawang district and its valley areas and Mazumdar et al., (2011) has also recorded a total 107 species of birds from the western part of Arunachal Pradesh. While Maheswaran (2013) recorded 113 species of birds from Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area: The survey was carried out in the proposed Tsangyang Gyatso Biosphere Reserve in western Arunachal Pradesh. The proposed biosphere reserve spreads over an area of 5848 sq. km. which span over the two district of Tawang and West Kameng. The proposed biosphere reserve is fragmented in three zones viz. Transitional & urban zone (with an area of 2465 sq. km.), Buffer Zone (with an area of 2192 sq.km.) and Core zone (with an area of 1190 sq.km.). The region is drained by the Tawangchu, Nyamjang Chu (both of which meet and drain to Bhutan) and Kameng river (eventually joining the mighty Brahmaputra) and their tributaries. Basically four study sites were selected for the documentation purpose. Mago-Thingbu- Jang and Zimithnag in Tawang district; Dirang-Sangti valley and Chander-Thungri-Potak-Lap (grazing ground and route) in West Kameng district are four different areas which are also part of IBA sites as well Data Collection: Primary documentation of the bird species is important for the study of assessment of the current status of bird’s species and habitat analysis, natural history observation, community studies and abundance estimates. The checklist is based primarily on the field work conducted during 10 field trips to the study area in the time period of September 2008- November 2011. A total 17 transects of 2 km stretch were laid in 5 different locations of the proposed biosphere reserve. Total 7 transects were established in Tawang district (Zemithang area-2 transects; Jang-Mago-Thingbu track-3 transects; PT Tso- Tsangetsar track-2 transects) and 10 transect in West Kameng district (Chander-Thungri-Potok track-3 transects; Lap-Suljap grazing ground area-3 tracks; Mundla-Phudung area-2 transects and Dirang-Sangti valley-2 transects).Birds were observed from 06:00 hrs- 10:00 hrs with the help of prismatic field binocular (NIKON 7x50 and OLYMPUS 8x40) and identification of species was carried out with the help of field guide of Birds of India by Gremmett et al., (2006). The listed species were thoroughly checked with the Red List of Threatened Species of IUCN version 2013.2 to know the present status. During the survey a specially developed photographic plates were also used to collect secondary information along with the Field guide of birds and shown these to local hunters and pastoral people who moves in the high altitude areas with their Yak and other cattle to obtain additional information on hunting aspect as well. © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 75 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article

Figure 1: The proposed Tsangyang Gyatso Biosphere Reserve, western part of Arunachal Pradesh showing with Core, Buffer & Transition zones

Photographic plates

Photo 1: Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri at PT Photo 2: Breeding pair of Rudy Shelduck Tso lake (Photo: K. Mazumdar) Tadorna ferruginea at Tsomgo Ama wetland (Photo: K. Mazumdar)

© Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 76 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article

Photo 3: Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris Photo 4: Rufous-vented Tit Parus rubidiventris (Photo: K. Mazumdar) (Photo: K. Mazumdar)

Photo 5: Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga Photo 6: Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis caryocatactes (Photo: K. Mazumdar) (Photo: K. Mazumdar)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In the studied biosphere reserve there are many potential key birding sites. Chander-Thungri, Mangu- Thingbu, Mandla-Phudung, Sangti Valley, Zimithang are the five major birding sites which are designated as the important bird areas (IBA) in the high altitude areas of Western Arunachal Pradesh. Six species of pheasants including the globally threatened Blyth’s Tragopan (Tragopan blythii), Temminck’s Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii) were recorded in Northern Arunachal Pradesh at 2100 to 3600m elevation (Islam and Rahmani 2004). Choudhury (2001) has recorded these species at Sangti Valley above 3000m which was the western most record in India along with Beautiful Sibia (Heterophasia pulchella), another globally threatened species at Chander-Thungri site. On the other hand, the Chander- Thungri track and Magu-Thingbu track are the well laid high altitude areas with distinct record of three Tragopan species i.e. Blyth’s Tragopan (Tragopan blythii), Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyrii) and Temminck’s Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii) in above 3000m MSL (Choudhury 2006). During the survey of avifaunal diversity in the proposed biosphere reserve, so far total of 207 species of birds belonging to 48 families were recorded. Out of them majority of 28 species (13.53%) belongs to Timaliidae family followed by Muscicapidae (27 species; 13.04%), Fringillidae (15 species; 7.25%), Sylviidae (15 species; 7.25%), Turdidae (14 species; 6.76%) etc. Out of the 207 species of birds, 1 species belongs to the Endangered (En), 4 vulnerable (Vu), 1 near threatened (NT) and rest 201 species belong to the least concern category of the IUCN.

© Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 77 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article

Figure 2: Family wise species distribution of avifauna in the proposed TsangyangGyatso Biosphere Reserve, Western Arunachal Pradesh

Significant Records: The high altitude wetland areas also played significant role in breeding ecology of many of the species belong to Anatidae family. Some of the significant records among the birds of the studied area are discussed below— Breeding Pair of Rudy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea): Listed as least concern (in IUCN). The presence of Ruddy Shelduck from Arunachal Pradesh is known so far but there was no information on the breeding ecology of this species from the high altitude wetlands of western Arunachal Pradesh. So, far in India eastern Ladakh and Sikkim is the only two known high altitude breeding site of this species in conjunction with selected sites in Nepal and Bhutan (Bird Life International, 2011). During a field trip to the high altitude wetland areas of western Arunachal Pradesh, the first photographic and videographic documentation of a breeding pair of Ruddy shell duck along with 7 ducklings was documented in the month of June 2011 from Tsomgo Ama wetland situated at an altitude of 4535 m AMSL covering an area of 0.27 sq. km (Mazumdar et al., 2011). First Record of Mallard from High Altitude Wetlands: Listed as least concern (in IUCN). Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are among the most common waterfowl species in the northern hemisphere. During regular field visit to Tawang District (its high-altitude wetlands), sighting of A. platyrhynchos from two different wetlands viz. Sela Lake (at an altitude of 4160 m AMSL) and Panggang Teng Tso Lake (at an altitude of 3900 m AMSL) were recorded (Gogoi et al., 2010). Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri): Listed as Critically Endangered (in IUCN Redlist of threatened species). The presence of this species population in the higher altitude wetlands of Arunachal Pradesh have never been reported although the Trans-Himalayan region isknown to be the non-residential passage for the members of the Anatidae family. We encountered an individual Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri) on four occasions in Panggang Teng Tso Lake situated in the northern boundary of Tawang district at an altitude of 3900 m. © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 78 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article Rufos-Necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis: Listed as Vulnerable (in IUCN Redlist of threatened species). We have collected the hornbill specimen from the lower ridges near Dirang and some parts of Mandla and phudung. The location is close to the India- Bhutan border and the habitat is mixed forest of the deciduous and conifer. This species is very rarely observed in wild in the studied area. Blyth's Tragopan Tragopan blythii: Listed as Vulnerable (in IUCN Redlist of threatened species) and restricted range species. Locally known as Bam, the Tragopan are common in the subtropical and temperate broadleaf forests near the north western side of the West Kameng district. Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra: Listed as Near Threatened (in IUCN Redlist of threatened species) it is overall uncommon and mostly present in the Western Arunachal Pradesh (Choudhury, 2006). They are mainly seen in the western side of Dirang valley boardering with Bhutan in the buffer and transitional zone covered by temperate broadleaf and conifer forest with understory of bamboo. Those patches are also good site for the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, where the second author is working on this endangered species. In western part of Arunachal Pradesh, the two protected areas viz. Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary has got the earlier record of Tragopan satyra (Choudhury, 2006). Black-Necked Crane Grus nigricollis: Listed as Vulnerable (in IUCN Redlist of threatened species), the species is a winter visitor to the two studied site (i.e. Zimithang and Dirang-Sangti valley). This species is being traditionally protected by the local Monpa tribe as a part of their traditional and religious believe. Currently this species is facing threat at Sangti valley due to the alternation of cropping pattern by the locals. Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii: Listed as least concern (in IUCN Redlist of threatened species). We could identify and photographed four individuals of Ibisbill in Dirng River near Dirang town. The Adult is grey with white belley, red legs and long down curved bill and the black face and black breast band. We have photographed this species in Dirang River while feeding by probing under rocks on stream bed. Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus: Listed as Least Concern (in IUCN Redlist of threatened species), it occurs in the conifer and subalpine forest of the biosphere reserve. Fourth author has documented and photographed a total of 18 Blood pheasant together which is one of the rare incidence, where one can found such number of individual. We have recorded the presence of these species in the Zimithang and Chander- Thungri study area.

Table 1: List of avifauna recorded in the proposed TsangyangGyatso Biosphere Reserve Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name IUCN Status Family: Accipitridae 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus LC 2 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo LC 3 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus LC 4 Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis LC 5 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos LC 6 Besra Accipiter virgatus LC 7 Mountain hawk eagle Nisaetus nipalensis LC 8 Shikra Accipiter badius LC 9 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela LC 10 Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus LC Family: Aegithalidae 11 Black Throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus LC Family: Aegithinidae 12 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia LC Family: Alcedinidae 13 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis LC 14 Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris LC Family: Anatidae 15 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos LC 16 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea LC © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 79 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article 17 Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri CR Family: Apodidae 18 Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus LC 19 House Swift Apus affinis LC Family: Bucerotidae 20 Rufous necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis Vu Family: Campephagidae 21 Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike Coracina melaschistos LC 22 Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus LC 23 Large Couckoo Shrike Coracina macei LC Family: Certhiidae 24 Rusty-flanked treecreeper Certhia nipalensis LC Family: Cinclidae 25 White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus LC 26 Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii LC Family: Cisticolidae 27 Grey breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii LC 28 Striated Prinia Prinia criniger LC 29 Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens LC 30 Hill Prinia Prinia superciliaris LC Family: Columbidae 31 Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota LC 32 Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis LC 33 Emerald Dove Chalcophapsindica LC 34 Speckled Woodpigeon Columba hodgsonii LC 35 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis LC 36 Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica LC 37 Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon Treron sphenurus LC 38 Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia LC 39 Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris LC Family: Coraciidae 40 Dollar bird Eurystomus orientalis LC Family: Corvidae 41 Yellow-billed Blue magpie Urocissa flavirostris LC 42 Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae LC 43 Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes LC 44 Common Crow Corvus splendens LC 45 Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos LC 46 Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus LC 47 Red billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax LC 48 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius LC Family: Cuculidae 49 Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus LC Family: Dicaeidae 50 Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum melanoxanthum LC Family: Dicruridae 51 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus LC 52 Brozed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus LC Family: Emberizidae 53 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia LC Family: Falconidae 54 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus LC 55 Oriental Hobby Falco severus LC Family: Fringillidae 56 Crimson Carpodacus rubescens LC © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 80 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article 57 Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus LC 58 White-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus thura LC 59 Streaked Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilloides LC 60 Collared Grosbeak Mycerobas affinis LC 61 White winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes LC 62 Gold naped Pyrrhoplectes epauletta LC 63 Scarlet Finch Haematospiza sipahi LC 64 Yellow breasted-Greenfinch Carduelis spinoides LC 65 Grey-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca LC 66 Red-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythrocephala LC 67 Spot-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas melanozanthos LC 68 Dark-breasted Rosefinch Carpodacus nipalensis LC 69 Dark-rumped Rosefinch Carpodacus edwardsii LC 70 Plain Mountain Finch Leucosticte nemoricola LC Family: Gruidae 71 Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis Vu Family: Hirundinidae 72 Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus LC 73 Pale Martin Riparia diluta LC Family: Ibidorhynchidae 74 Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii LC Family: Irenidae 75 Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella LC 76 Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii LC Family: Laniidae 77 Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus LC 78 Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach LC 79 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus LC Family: Megalaimidae 80 Great Barbet Megalaima virens LC 81 Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima franklinii LC Family: Motacillidae 82 White Wagtail Motacilla alba LC 83 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LC 84 Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni LC Family: Muscicapidae 85 Pale Blue flycatcher Cyornis unicolor LC 86 Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata LC 87 Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva LC 88 Slaty blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor LC 89 Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris LC 90 Little pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni LC 91 Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus LC 92 Hodgson's Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni LC 93 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros LC 94 Blue fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis LC 95 White-winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogastrus LC 96 Plumbeous water Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa LC 97 White capped water Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus LC 98 Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri LC 99 Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus LC 100 Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea LC 101 Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae LC 102 Large Niltava Niltava grandis LC 103 Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara LC © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 81 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article 104 Grandala Grandala coelicolor LC 105 Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata LC 106 Rufous-breasted Bush-Robin Tarsiger hyperythrus LC 107 White-browed Bush-Robin Tarsiger indicus LC 108 Golden Bush Robin Tarsiger chrysaeus LC 109 White tailed Robin Myiomela leucura LC 110 Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea LC 111 White-tailed Rubythroat Luscinia pectoralis LC Family: Nectariniidae 112 Mrs Gold’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae LC 113 Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis LC 114 Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda LC 115 Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra LC Family: Paridae 116 Black-lored Tit Parus xanthogenys LC 117 Rufous-vented Tit Parus rubidiventris LC 118 Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus LC 119 Yellow-cheecked Tit Parus spilonotus LC 120 Great Tit Parus major LC 121 Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea LC Family: Passeridae 122 Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans LC 123 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus LC Family: Phalacrocoracidae 124 Tickell's Leaf-Warbler Phalacrocorax carbo LC Family: Phasianidae 125 Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra NT 126 Khalij Pheasent Lophura leucomelanos LC 127 Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus LC 128 Blyth's Tragopan Tragopan blythii Vu 129 Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus LC Family: Picidae 130 Crimson-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos cathpharius LC 131 Darjeeling Woodpecker Dendrocopos darjellensis LC Family: Prunellidae 132 Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris LC 133 Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata LC 134 Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata LC Family: Pycnonotidae 135 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer LC 136 Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus LC 137 Mountain Bulbul Hypsipetes mcclellandi LC 138 Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus LC Family: Sittidae 139 Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa Vu 140 White-tailed Nuthatch Sitta himalayensis LC Family: Stenostiridae 141 Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis LC 142 Yellow bellied Fantail Chelidorhynx hypoxantha LC Family: Strigidae 143 Asian barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides LC Family: Sturnidae 144 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis LC Family: Sylviidae 145 Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis LC © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 82 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article 146 Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher LC 147 Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps LC 148 Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus LC 149 Golden spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii LC 150 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides LC 151 Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos LC 152 Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus LC 153 Smoky Warbler Phylloscopus fuligiventer LC 154 Tickell's Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus affinis LC 155 Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris LC 156 Yellow browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus LC 157 Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata LC 158 Common Tailor bird Orthotomus sutorius LC 159 Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos LC Family: Tephrodornithidae 160 Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis LC 161 Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus LC Family: Tichodromidae 162 Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria LC Family: Timaliidae 163 Black faced Laughingthrush Garrulax affinis LC 164 Spotted Laughingthrush Garrulax ocellatusI LC 165 Stripped Laughingthrush Garrulax virgatus LC 166 White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus LC 167 White-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax albogularis LC 168 Streaked Laughingthrush Garrulax lineatus LC 169 Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush Garrulax rufogularis LC 170 Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus LC 171 Blue-winged Laughingthrush Garrulax squamatus LC 172 Variegated Laughingthrush Garrulax variegatus LC 173 Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta LC 174 Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis LC 175 Striped throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis LC 176 Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis LC 177 Blue-winged Minla Minla cyanouroptera LC 178 Chestnut-tailed Minla Minla strigula LC 179 Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta LC 180 Ludlow's Fulvetta Alcippe ludlowi LC 181 Golden-breasted Fulvetta Alcippe chrysotis LC 182 Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata LC 183 Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea LC 184 Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris LC 185 Golden Babbler Stachyris chrysaea LC 186 Black-eared Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius melanotis LC 187 Lesser Necklaced Laughing Thrush Garrulax monileger LC 188 Rufous-winged Fulvetta Alcippe castaneceps LC 189 Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis LC 190 Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus LC Family: Troglodytidae 191 Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis LC Family: Turdidae 192 White collared Blackbird Turdus albocinctus LC 193 Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula LC 194 Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul LC 195 White-collared Blackbird Turdus albocinctus LC © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 83 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article 196 Plain backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima LC 197 Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus LC 198 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius LC 199 Blue-capped Rock Thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus LC 200 Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush Monticola rufiventris LC 201 Purple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea LC 202 White browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana LC 203 Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni LC 204 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus LC 205 Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul LC Family: Upupidae 206 Common Hoopoe Upupa epops LC Family: Zosteropidae 207 Oriental White Eye Zosterops palpebrosus LC * LC= Least Concern; NT= Near Threatened; Vu= Vulnerable; CR= Critically Endangered

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors would like to express their gratitude to the people of the proposed Tsangyang Gyatso Biosphere reserve and our field guide Mr. SonamTsering of Chander village, Dirang for his help.

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© Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 84 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (1) January-April, pp.74-85/Mazumdar et al. Research Article Mishra C, Datta A, Madhusudan MD (2004). The high altitude widlife of Western Arunachal Pradesh- A survey report.CERC technical report No.8. (Nature Conservation Foundation, International Snow Leopard Trust, and Wildlife Conservation Society, Mysore, India) 49 Rahmani AR and Choudhury AU (2012). Threatened Birds of Assam. Indian Bird Conservation Network (Bombay Natural History Society, Royal Society for Protection of Birds and BirdLife International Oxford University Press) viii+ 167. Sangha HS and Naoraji R (2007). New and significant records of birds in Arunachal Pradesh, north east India. Forktail 23 179-181. Singh P (1994). Recent bird records from Arunachal Pradesh. Forktail 10 65-104. Singha P (1999). Bird Survey in Selected Localities of Arunachal Pradesh, India (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun) 92. Soud R, Mazumdar K, Gogoi L, Gupta A and Dutta, PK (2011). Effect of Forest Fragmentation on the Avifauna of the Important Bird Areas Along the Western Part of Arunachal Pradesh, India. In: Status and Conservation of Biodiversity in North-East India edited by Choudhury MD, Sharma GD, Choudhury S and Talukdar AD (Swastik Publication, New Delhi) 171-185.

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